By: Debbe Crandall, Save the Oak Ridges Moraine (STORM)

Fifteen years ago this Saturday, April 22—Earth Day—I climbed to the top of Mount Wolfe, one of the high points of the Oak Ridges Moraine, which happens to be my back yard. I remember standing there, dancing a victory jig and shaking my fist in the direction of Toronto and Brampton and the sprawl which, for the time being, had been stopped—at least for the lands in the Oak Ridges Moraine.  

Photo courtesy of Pete Paterson

An amazing 9.2 million people (or 3 million households) live within 20 kilometres of Ontario’s Greenbelt—that’s over a quarter of Canada’s whole population! 20 kilometres is the distance we consider to be “near home” for nature-based recreation, 73% of which occurs within this radius.

Recently we set out to determine what recreational activities people are engaging in across the Greenbelt, and how much the Greenbelt’s waters and forests contribute to the well-being of our region—an assessment of value known as natural capital.

In celebration of National Soil Conservation Week, we are showcasing two of our current Greenbelt research projects.

National Soil Conservation Week 2017 runs from April 16th to 22nd, and focuses on the importance of proper land stewardship for the benefit of all resources—especially soil—under our care. Led by the Soil Conservation Council of Canada, it’s an annual effort to highlight continuing successes in soil management, while at the same time keeping soil health top-of-mind for both farmers and the public.

Photo courtesy of Ontario Farmland Trust

The Waterfront Regeneration Trust and partners start the party with Ontario 150: Celebrate by Bike
Ontario cycling leaders celebrate 2017 with a program that inspires love of the province, and love of cycling.

April 12, 2017 In 1967, it was singing “Ontari ari ari-o” and celebrating Expo. Fifty years later, if Ontario’s cycling leaders have their way, Ontario will celebrate the country’s special year on their bikes through Ontario 150: Celebrate by Bike.

The Waterfront Regeneration Trust, Ontario By Bike, the Greenbelt Foundation, and Share the Road Coalition will present Ontario 150: Celebrate by Bike to inspire Ontarians to discover some of the best cycling in the world, in their own backyard - from the Great Lakes to the Greenbelt and the Great North.

Download the presentations from our March 2017 workshop on natural capital valuation, including:

• Valuation framework and results from "Ontario's Good Fortune";
• lessons from Peel and Oakville pilot projects in the Municipal Natural Assets Initiative;
• an update on the development of provincial accounts;
• and a tactical analysis of how best to use natural capital accounting.
  

By: Tom Bowers, Research Manager

On March 29, the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation hosted a workshop in partnership with the Natural Capital Lab and Ontario Network for Ecosystem Services. Held at Country Heritage Park in Milton, the goals for the workshop were twofold.

By: Felix Whitton

Today is World Water Day, when we recognize the importance of clean water supplies in our communities and across the world.

The Greenbelt protects nearly 8,600 hectares of water and over 100,000 hectares of wetlands, including the Oak Ridges Moraine—the 'rain barrel' of Ontario—and the headwaters of 65 rivers and streams that supply clean water to millions of residents. 

Photo by Jean Simard

However, the Greenbelt could stretch even further and protect at-risk areas beyond its boundaries. That is what a coalition of more than 120 community groups is calling for with the #GrowOurGB campaign.

In celebration of World Water Day, here are three reasons why we need to grow our Greenbelt!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MARCH 21, 2017

Spoken Word Poem Celebrates Ontario's Greenbelt on World Poetry Day
A slam poem by Shane Koyczan, commissioned by the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation celebrates farmers and the Greenbelt

The Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation is participating in World Poetry Day by sharing a spoken word poem by renowned slam poet Shane Koyczan that pays tribute to the land and the farmers who sustain us. “The Growers Prayer” can be listened to online and shared on social media to mark World Poetry Day. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 7, 2017

Report Urges Mixed Housing Choice, Complete Communities to Address Housing Prices
New report from Greenbelt Foundation puts Toronto region housing crunch in global context 

A new report, Global Cities: Housing Prices in Major Urban Centres, from the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation finds that housing price increases in the Greater Golden Horseshoe are comparable to similar booming markets in major urban centres around the world. With 56% of the world’s population now living in cities, the report suggests that as globalization continues to bring more residents to cities, planning solutions to increase housing choice are needed.

The first in a new series, Housing Affordability in the Greater Golden Horseshoe, this report places housing prices in the GGH in a global context.

"Understanding the factors contributing to upward pressure on housing prices in the GGH provides the necessary context for policy and planning tools to address concerns of affordability, access and equity in the housing market, in order to create the sustainable and prosperous communities of the future."

Read the full report below.

  Download PDF

Stay tuned for the next report in the series!